Cities Try To Lure Demo Donkey With Claims Of Better Barnyard

WASHINGTON -- Five cities seeking the 1988 Democratic National Convention offered Friday everything from a guaranteed win in the presidential election to a triple-loop roller coaster.

New Orleans and Atlanta -- two cities thought to be among the favorites -- joined New York, Detroit and the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park, Ohio, in making presentations before the party`s site selection committee.

Houston, another city thought to have a good shot, Kansas City and Washington, D.C., were scheduled for today.

``If you choose New Orleans, I guarantee you are going to win the presidential election and have a Democrat in the White House,`` said the city`s mayor, Sidney Barthelemy.

Atlanta`s presentation didn`t fail to mention that the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park has the world`s only triple-loop roller coaster.

``How are you Democrats going to feel about that triple loop? Can you handle that?`` asked Justus Martin Jr., the head of Atlanta`s host committee.

Although a party spokesman has declined to speculate on who the winner might be, New Orleans, Atlanta and Houston are thought to have the best chance because many Democratic leaders want to appeal to the crucial Southern vote in the 1988 election.

Atlanta officials did not mention the politics of selecting their city but it played a major part in New Orleans` presentation.

Barthelemy reminded the party it had not carried the South since Jimmy Carter`s election in 1976 and said, ``The reason that you should decide on a city is the political power it will give the Democratic Party to regain the White House.``

Supporters of Brook Park offered a similar theme, saying it is an ideal site because of its central location -- midway between New York and Chicago -- and because of its ethnic mix and struggles to recover from the slump in basic industries.

``The people in this area represent bedrock America,`` said James Carney, chairman of the committee trying to land the convention.

New York City officials leaned heavily on the recent Statute of Liberty celebration in making their pitch, citing the rave reviews from out-of-towners and the notable absence of any unpleasant incidents despite massive crowds.

``Come to the city that just two short weeks ago managed the largest celebration in history -- a celebration of patriotism and national pride,`` said Alair Townsend, deputy mayor.